Albert Kelly is not a big fan of plans. He said as much after the Challenge Cup semi-final victory over Leeds Rhinos when he came up with several off-the-cuff plays to help Hull FC make it to Wembley.

Fast-forward to Saturday’s date with destiny in London and Kelly was up to old tricks after a play which he says FC ‘stuffed up’.

Danny Houghton’s long second-half pass landed in the hands of Kelly on the right edge on the last, but a miss-communication meant the half-back changed course and ran for the line, before he then provided a sublime offload for Mahe Fonua to score a key try.

Hull FC open top bus parade at Hull City Hall

“We actually stuffed that play up but we sometimes wing it and it comes off and sometimes we wing it and it doesn’t work,” Kelly told the Mail.

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Hull FC celebrations

That time it did work as Fonua picked up the pieces and dived over to give FC an 18-10 second-half lead over Wigan, something that amazed Kelly.

“I know what Mahe is like, he’s a wrecking ball. I don’t think anyone was going to stop him from five metres out. It was a great finish.”

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Whilst not being the centre of everything Hull did in the final, Kelly dipped in and out of the game well and made sure the Old Faithful were singing his name long into the night after the 18-14 success.

Since making the switch from Hull KR ahead of the 2017 season the FC supporters have gained an affinity with Kelly and the 26-year-old feels the same way.

“We do it for the staff and the fans. There are a lot of people that spend good money to come and watch us play,” Kelly continued.

“They also deserve a lot of credit as well for filling a large part of Wembley Stadium. I take my hat off to them.”